Page 44 of Reckless

I considered Ron’s words. I knew he was right, I wasn’t the one dealing with the outcry. I hadn’t even looked at my social media accounts while in New Hope. But at the same time, I didn’t want to distance myself from Kelly.

“You know what, I’m just going to find her if that’s alright, Mom? Check that she’s okay.”

“Oh yes, you should definitely do that. She might have seen these and freak out.”

I left Mom’s room, heading down the hall looking for Kelly, my heart hammering harder with each step.

Every moment I spent with my high school sweetheart was magical, and I didn’t want to give that up just yet. Maybe other people wouldn’t understand, didn’t like that I was finding a way to overcome pure misery, but I didn’t care. This was my mother. My situation. If I wanted to snatch a bit of happiness, then I would.

“Kelly!” I called out to her when I spied her coming out of a patient’s room. “I need to tell you…”

When she turned, her red-rimmed eyes told me she’d already seen. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me. She let her head fall against my chest and let out a long sigh. “Sorry, I know it’s silly to get upset…”

“No, not at all. It isn’t like you expected that to happen. I should have warned you. I’ve been off-kilter. Still, it isn’t right, shouldn’t have happened.”

“It must have been those girls.” She sniffed, and I felt even more like shit.

“I’d say so. It’s not uncommon. As a matter of fact, things like this happening are more common for me than not.”

“The comments, that’s what got to me.”

I pulled back to stare at her. “You didn’t read the comments. That’s a fatal mistake.”

She smiled and sagged against me, her face upturned. “Well, I know thatnow.”

I gently pressed my lips against hers, the same fingers of electricity taking hold of my senses I’d almost come to expect. But she didn’t respond quite the same, like she was holding back.

“Do you think this is a good idea? I mean, everyone with a cell phone could post this online?”

“It won’t be an issue. I’ll behave myself, I promise you. In public, at least. What we have will be our little secret.”

Though her expression remained skeptical, she nodded.

Relief consumed me, but only for a minute. Kelly was a private person, what if she couldn’t handle being in the spotlight? Or worse, what if she got tired of being my secret?

Because despite what the rest of the world thought, I wasn’t done with her.

I wondered if I ever would be.